Prince George RCMP is putting on a steering wheel lock give-away.
It's being held in conjunction with auto crime prevention month and it's for the owners of older-model vehicles without an anti-theft system.
Preference will be given to those persons that own a vehicle thieves tend to target, particularly Ford, GMC/Chevrolet, and Dodge pickup trucks more than eight years old.
"This program was a big success last December when we gave away 108 steering wheel locks in less than two weeks" said Prince George RCMP Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Our hope is that everyone in the community will take extra precautions to secure their vehicles and make sure they do not get stolen."
Auto crime prevention month also focuses on theft from vehicles. This is when owners leave valuables in their vehicles and the items are stolen, often because doors are left unlocked.
"Last year, police reported more than 56,500 vehicle break-ins and over 11,600 vehicle thefts in B.C." said Insurance Corporation of B.C. road safety coordinator Doug MacDonald.
"That's why it's important to remove and valuables from your vehicle and lock your doors and windows no matter how quickly you expect to return. We can all do our part to help lock out auto crime."
In Prince George, auto theft went up 43 per cent from 2016 to 2017, while theft from vehicles rose 17 per cent during the same period.
For more information on auto theft prevention, go to www.princegeorge.rcmp.ca or www.icbc.com.
To take advantage of the give-away, drop by the community policing office at the detachment, 455 Victoria Street, with your driver's licence and insurance documents showing the year and model of vehicle you drive. The community policing office can be reached at (250) 561-3366.
